Leva Bates

Leva Bates

Bates in November 2014
Birth name Leva Bates[1]
Born May 21, 1983[1]
Madisonville, Kentucky, United States
Resides Orlando, Florida, United States[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Blue Pants
Leva[3]
Leva Bates
Billed height 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)[4]
Billed weight 115 lb (52 kg)[4]
Billed from Gotham City, Florida[4]
The Clearance Rack[2]
Trained by Mark LoMonaco[4]
Devon Hughes[4]
Debut 2006[4]

Leva Bates (born May 21, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, best known for her time in Shimmer Women Athletes. She works on the independent circuit in the United States and has made several appearances for WWE NXT under the ring name Blue Pants.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2006–2009)

Bates was trained by the Team 3D Academy and made her professional wrestling debut in 2006.[4] She spent the next three years wrestling primarily in the Southeastern United States, including for Southeastern Championship Wrestling (SCW) and Coastal Championship Wrestling. In SCW, she won the SCW Women's Championship on November 8, 2008, by defeating Betsy Ruth and Lexie Fyfe in a three-way match. She also appeared for World Xtreme Wrestling, beginning in 2009, wrestling against Betsy Ruth and Malia Hosaka among others.[1]

Shimmer Women Athletes (2009–present)

Bates debuted for Shimmer Women Athletes in 2009 at Volume 28, when she and Kimberly Kash lost a tag team match to Kacey Diamond and Sassy Stephie. She returned at the next show in 2010, defeating She Nay Nay in a dark match before losing to Malia Hosaka on Volume 30. At Volumes 33 and 34, she lost ot Allison Danger and Melanie Cruise respectively, before defeating Cat Power at Volume 36. Beginning at Volume 37 in March 2011, Bates formed a tag team with Allison Danger, known as Regeneration X. Over the next year, they defeated Jamilia Craft and Mia Yim and Sassy Stephie and Nevaeh, but lost to Nikki Roxx and Ariel and The Knight Dynasty (Britani and Saraya Knight). On March 17, 2012, Regeneration X failed to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship from Ayako Hamada and Ayumi Kurihara, and were unsuccessful again in a four-way match at Volume 48 the next day.[1] In 2013, Bates returned to singles competition, and unsuccessfully challenged Cheerleader Melissa for the Shimmer Championship on October 19 at Volume 58.[5] She spent the rest of 2013 and 2014 wrestling against Nikki Storm, Marti Belle, Veda Scott, and Jessicka Havok.[1][5][6]

Shine Wrestling (2012–present)

The Lucha Sisters (Bates, left, and Mia Yim) in November 2014

Bates debuted in Shine Wrestling at their first event in July 2012; initially a singles competitor, she faced Mercedes Martinez, Portia Perez, and Jessicka Havok, before having a series of matches with Kimberly, with the pair trading wins.[1] This prompted at a Last Woman Standing match at Shine 7, which Bates won. After being attacked post-match by Kimberly,[7] they faced off again at Shine 8 in a Fans Bring the Weapons I Quit match, which Kimberly won by referre stoppage.[8] The feud ended at Shine 9 when Bates won an "Arkham Asylum" steel cage match.[9] Bates then competed in the tournament to determine the inaugural Shine Champion; she defeated Taylor Made before losing to Mia Yim.[10][11] This was followed by a feud with Nevaeh, which emcompassed a hardcore match at Shine 15 won by Bates.[1]

In February 2014, Bates teamed with Mia Yim to enter the tournament to determine the first Shine Tag Team Champions. Known as the The Lucha Sisters, they defeated The Kimber Bombs (Cherry Bomb and Kimber Lee) and Jessie Belle Smothers and Sassy Stephie en route to the final, where they defeated Made in Sin (Taylor Made and Allysin Kay).[12] They successfully defended the title against Evie and Madison Eagles and Candice LeRae and Ivelisse, before losing it to Legendary (Brandi Wine and Malia Hosaka) at Shine 20 on June 27, 2014.[1][13][14] The Lucha Sisters failed to regain the championship in a rematch at Shine 21 in August.[15]

Other promotions (2008–present)

Bates appeared on the May 28, 2008, episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact!, accepting Awesome Kong's $25,000 challenge. She later had a try-out match for the company against Isis the Amazon in February 2011, but lost.[1] In September 2012, Bates appeared again on Impact Wrestling, portraying a stagehand who helped the Aces & Eights faction abduct Sting and Hulk Hogan.[16]

Bates debuted in Full Impact Pro (FIP) in May 2008, when she and Rain defeated Portia Perez and Mimi in a tag team match. She returned five years later,[1] as part of a Shine Wrestling showcase match against Solo Darling on August 9, 2013. She continued making appearances for FIP throughout 2013 and 2014, as the manager of Dos Ben Dejos (Jay Rios and Eddie Cruz), along with Mia Yim. She also made sporadic wrestling appearances for the company, usually against Darling or Su Yung.[17]

Bates made her debut in WWE's developmental territory on the October 16, 2014, episode of WWE NXT, as an enhancement talent, losing to the debuting Carmella. She was introduced as "Blue Pants" by Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady because of her blue ring attire, and retained the name for her subsequent appearances.[18] She returned at the NXT television tapings on October 23, losing again to Carmella; the match aired on November 27.[19] Blue Pants earned her first victory on the January 1, 2015, episode of NXT, defeating Carmella in their third match.[20] She made further appearances on the February 18 and April 15 episodes, losing to NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks and Dana Brooke respectively.[21][22]

Personal life

Bates dressed as The Bride from Kill Bill in March 2014

Bates is known for her use of cosplay in her ring outfits; she regularly dresses as characters from movies, video games, and comic books.[23]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Leva Bates". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Benigno, Anthony (March 4, 2015). "The unexpected virtue of Blue Pants: NXT's cult phenomenon breaks her silence". WWE. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Roster". Full Impact Pro. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 "Bates, Leva". Shine Wrestling. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Show results – 10/19 Shimmer DVD taping in Berwyn, Ill.: Shimmer Title & Tag Titles defended for Vol. 58 & 59, Cheerleader Melissa and top women's wrestlers featured". Pro Wrestling Torch. October 20, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ Namako, Jason (June 16, 2014). "Feature: Jason Namako recaps Shimmer Volume 59". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  7. ↑ Namako, Jason (February 23, 2014). "2/22 Shine #7 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  8. ↑ Namako, Jason (March 23, 2013). "3/23 Shine #8 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  9. ↑ Namako, Jason (April 20, 2013). "4/19 Shine #9 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ Namako, Jason (May 24, 2013). "5/24 Shine #10 iPPV Results: (Angelina Love vs. Rain)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ Namako, Jason (July 13, 2013). "7/12 Shine #11 iPPV Results: Ybor City, FL (First Shine Champion crowned)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  12. ↑ Namako, Jason (March 3, 2014). "2/28 Shine 17 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ Namako, Jason (April 20, 2014). "4/18 Shine 18 iPPV Results: Ybor City, FL (Ivelisse vs. Knight)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  14. ↑ Namako, Jason (June 28, 2014). "6/27 Shine Results – (Ivelisse/Serena Deeb – 1 Hour Draw)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  15. ↑ Namako, Jason (August 23, 2014). "8/22 Shine #21 Results: Ybor City, FL (Havok vs. Kay)". WresteView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  16. ↑ Namako, Jason (September 28, 2012). "Identity of unknown female on Impact Wrestling". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Results". Full Impact Pro. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  18. ↑ James, Justin (October 16, 2014). "James's WWE NXT Report 10/16 – Week 122: Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd main event, Women's champ Charlotte; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  19. ↑ Parry, Josh (October 23, 2014). "WWE News: NXT Spoilers – full results from Thursday's TV taping, including line-up for the next NXT special, plus Seth Rollins makes post-taping appearance, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  20. ↑ Howell, Nolan (January 1, 2015). "NXT: Itami and Balor continue tag ascent". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  21. ↑ Howell, Nolan (February 18, 2015). "NXT: Neville rematches NXT champ Owens". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  22. ↑ Howell, Nolan (April 15, 2015). "NXT: Zayn drops Rhyno in return". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  23. ↑ Namako, Jason (January 27, 2014). "1/24 Shine 16 iPPV Results: Ybor, Florida (Rain vs. Ivelisse)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  24. ↑ James, Justin (February 18, 2015). "James's WWE NXT report 2/18 - Week 140: Takeover fall-out, including Owens vs. Neville main event, Rhyno debuts, new Women's champ in action, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Female 50 for 2014". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  26. ↑ Namako, Jason (March 3, 2014). "2/28 Shine 17 iPPV Results: Ybor City, Florida". WrestleView. Retrieved March 9, 2015.

External links